Monitoring your body temperature can tell you important things about your health.
Normal body temperature is around 98.6°F (37°C). However, some people’s body temperature is slightly warmer or cooler than average, and this is normal.
Temperatures that are significantly warmer or cooler than normal may indicate some type of health problem, such as a fever caused by an infection or hypothermia.
Body temperature is usually measured by placing a thermometer in the mouth. But there are four other ways to measure body temperature that involve different parts of the body.
ear (tympani)
forehead
rectum (rectum)
underarm (armpit)
Ear, oral, and rectal temperatures are considered the most accurate indicators of actual body temperature.
Axillary (armpit) and forehead temperatures are considered the least accurate because they are taken from the outside, not the inside.
These temperatures can be a full degree lower than oral body temperature.
But just because the underarm temperature isn’t accurate doesn’t mean it’s useless. This can be a good way to check for changes in body temperature.
How to check your armpit temperature
Digital thermometers are useful for measuring underarm temperatures. Do not use a mercury thermometer, it is dangerous if broken.
To measure the temperature under the armpit:
Make sure the thermometer is on.
Point the tip of the thermometer toward the child, have the child raise his arm, gently press the thermometer in the center of the armpit, and slide it under his arm.
To keep the thermometer in place, have the child put his arms down and close to his body.
Wait for your thermometer reading. This will last for about a minute or until it beeps.
Take the thermometer from the armpit and read the temperature.
Clean the thermometer and store it for future use.
When measuring axillary temperature, it is useful to compare ear, oral and rectal temperature measurements more accurately.
Use the following chart to find ear, mouth, or rectal readings that match your armpit readings.
How to take a baby’s or toddler’s temperature
The most reliable way to check the body temperature of a child under 3 months old is the underarm temperature.
It is often used to measure the temperature of children from newborns to 5 years old, because it is one of the easiest and least invasive methods.
Take your child’s armpit temperature yourself. Hold the thermometer to keep it in place and make sure it doesn’t move when the thermometer is under the arm.
If their temperature is above 37°C, your child may have a fever, so confirm this temperature with a rectal thermometer.
Rectal temperature measurement is a very reliable way to measure body temperature in young children.
In young children, it is important to confirm fever as soon as possible and to see a doctor as soon as it is detected.
To measure a child’s rectal temperature:
Clean the digital thermometer with cold water and soap and rinse thoroughly.
Cover the end (silver tip) with petroleum jelly.
Place your baby on his back with his knees bent.
Carefully insert the tip of the thermometer into the rectum about 1 inch, or 1/2 inch if the baby is under 6 months old. Hold the thermometer with your finger.
Wait 1 minute until the thermometer beeps.
Slowly remove the thermometer and read the temperature.
Clean the thermometer and store it for future use.
Ear thermometers are safe to use on children over 6 months of age.
Oral thermometers are not recommended for young children, as they may have difficulty keeping the thermometer under their tongue long enough to measure the temperature.
It is considered safe to take a child’s forehead temperature, but be sure to use a forehead thermometer, not a forehead strip.